Diamond Foods Welcomes 2013 By Hosting Successful And Healthy Emerald(R) Nuts Midnight Run In New York City

The Emerald Nuts Event Attracts a Large Crowd of Runners and Spectators in Central Park on New Year's Eve

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 10, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Diamond Foods, Inc. (Nasdaq:DMND) announced today that the Emerald Nuts' Midnight Run in New York City's Central Park was successful in building brand awareness among consumers who embrace healthy, active lifestyles. The four-mile run organized by New York Road Runners is held at midnight each New Year's Eve in New York City and features a large fireworks display and a costume contest. Emerald Nuts, the title sponsor of the New Year's event for the past nine years, also provided runners and spectators with Emerald products and prizes throughout the night. Emerald Breakfast on-the-go! Nut and Granola Mix samples kept the crowd energized well past midnight, while Emerald 100 calorie packs were the perfect post-race snack for runners.

"The Emerald brand is committed to providing consumers with indulgent, guilt-free snacks that will help power them through their busy day, even if it includes the middle of the night," said Andy Allcock, Director of Marketing for Emerald and Pop Secret. "For those 5,000 runners who participated, the Emerald Nuts Midnight Run was a healthy way to start the New Year."

Among many professional athletes who attended the event, Christian Thompson of Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, won the men's division with a time of 18 minutes, 49 seconds. Delilah DiCrescenzo of New York, New York, won the women's division, with a time of 21 minutes, 7 seconds.

The Emerald Nuts Midnight Run is one of Emerald's longstanding running events. Emerald's next running event, The Emerald Across the Bay 12K over the Golden Gate Bridge, will be held March 17th, 2013 in San Francisco and has been called "The Best Bridge Run in America" by Runner's World magazine.

About Diamond

Diamond Foods is an innovative packaged food company focused on building and energizing brands including Kettle Brand® Chips, Emerald® snack nuts, Pop Secret® popcorn and Diamond of California® nuts. Diamond's products are distributed in a wide range of stores where snacks and culinary nuts are sold. For more information visit our corporate web site: www.diamondfoods.com .

New York Road Runners was founded in 1958 when a small group of passionate runners vowed to bring running to the people. Over the past 54 years, NYRR has grown from a local running club to the world's premier community running organization. NYRR's mission is to empower everyone, of all ages and abilities—beginners and competitive athletes, the young and the elderly, adult professionals and underserved schoolchildren—to improve their health and well-being through the power of running and fitness.